Horsham

Horsham's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, marriage and religion.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Horsham increased by 7.6%, from about 122,000 to 131,000.

The addition of just over 9,200 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Horsham was home to, on average, 1.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Horsham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Horsham increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 12% of people in Horsham are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Horsham

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Horsham, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Horsham, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Horsham fell from 59% to 56%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Horsham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Horsham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Horsham decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Horsham, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Horsham

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Horsham that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 19,000 in 2001 to just over 35,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Horsham that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 93,000 in 2001 to about 83,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,300 to about 10,000 (from 6.8% to 7.9%).

Just over 670 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 450 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Horsham increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Horsham

The percentage of Horsham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.5% to 7.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage of Horsham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Horsham

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 96% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 96% in 2001

The number of people in Horsham from the White ethnic groups increased from about 120,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Horsham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 950 in 2001 to just under 2,600 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 2.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 910 to about 1,800 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

Just over 650 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 340 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Horsham decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Horsham, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Horsham, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.6% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Horsham increased from 11% to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79% to 75%.

Private renting in Horsham increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Horsham, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Horsham working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Horsham decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Horsham, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in Horsham, while falling in Uttlesford (one of the most statistically similar areas to Horsham based on ONS area classifications).

In Horsham, the proportion went up from 27% in 2001 to 28% in 2011, while across England it fell from 25% to 24%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Horsham increased from 7.9% to 8.8%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 44% to 40%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households with children fell here, while rising in statistically similar Uttlesford.

In Horsham, the proportion came down from 29% in 2001 to 28% in 2011, while across England it went up from 31% to 32%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Horsham increased from 62% to 63%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 8.9%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Horsham residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Horsham residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Horsham increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Horsham, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Horsham residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Horsham remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Horsham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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